ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ —  The ad hoc Land Acquisition Committee of the Atlantic Highlands Board of Education will meet next Thursday to hear the legal opinion of the Board's attorney on withdrawing from a regionalization agreement with the Highlands School District and returning 7th and 8th grade students to Atlantic Highlands.

Currently, students from Highlands and Atlantic Highlands in grades 7 - 12 attend Henry Hudson Regional School.

The ad hoc committee, which meets privately, was formed last fall to recommend uses for the possible acquisition of property near the Atlantic Highlands school. Voters will decide in the Spring school board elections whether to acquire the property across the street from the school at a cost of $313,000.  The site was the scene of a fire last year that destroyed a commercial building there.

The committee requested at their December 11, 2001 meeting that the board consider returning 7th and 8th grade students to Atlantic Highlands as a cost savings measure.

According to the minutes of the December ad hoc meeting, several members of the committee pointed out that both Henry Hudson Regional School and the Atlantic Highlands Elementary School are proposing new construction to meet what they called overcrowding needs. A discussion ensued that potential construction savings at Henry Hudson may be possible if Atlantic Highlands 7th and 8th grade students returned to AHES thereby relieving congestion at Henry Hudson.

Fundamental to these ideas is amending the regionalization between Atlantic Highlands and Highlands to allow 7-8th grades to return to Atlantic Highlands.

The School Board heard a legal opinion regarding the withdrawal from their attorney during an executive session January 22 but has refused to disclose that opinion to the public until it has first been transmitted to the ad hoc committee.

Board President Helen Marchetti said it was "a courtesy" to first share the opinion with the ad hoc committee since the suggestion originated with that committee.

Henry Hudson Regional Superintendent of Schools Brian Zychowski, said the idea "doesn't make sense."

"I am not judging the ad hoc committee, but it doesn't seem practical because you are going to be duplicating efforts," said Mr. Zychowski. He added "You'd be depleting your resources for 7th and 8th grade."  He said not only dollar resources, but program resources would be reduced for the students. Notably, he said "Your not going to reduce cost. There will be duplications."

There are currently about 90 students in 7th and 8th grades at Henry Hudson.  If Atlantic Highlands students were to leave it would reduce opportunities and increase costs for all the students who participate in extra-curricular activities like sports, or participate in co-curricular activities like the Key Club or Spanish Club according to Mr. Zychowski.  He said the curriculum would suffer, as would special remediation programs for students who need help as indicated by the results of Grade Eight Proficiency Assessments (GEPA).

Mr. Zychowski said, "The three districts (Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Henry Hudson) should look at what education research says regarding delivering educational resources."  He said that, "Research indicates that students are best served by delivering elementary, middle, and high school resources."

He noted that 6th, 7th and 8th grade students should be grouped together for middle school. Currently, the arrangement is "kind of fragmented" in the districts, he said.

The AH Board of Education will next meet on March 19, 2002.

Public Information from the Ad Hoc Committee on Land Purchase / Building Renovations
http://www.ahes.k12.nj.us/adhoc.htm

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Board Discusses Return of 7th and 8th Grade

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School Board's Land Acquisition Committee Meeting Closed to Public

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School Expansion Plan Gets No Support

LINCROFT, NJ — Brookdale’s World War II Studies Spring 2002 program series continues with “Terrorism and Its Challenge to World Peace” featuring David C. Speedie, chair, International Peace and Security Program, Carnegie Corporation and the 10 member U.S. Army War College Current Events Panel at the Lincroft campus on Thursday, March 7 from 7 PM to 9:30 PM.

“The panel will discuss today’s events and their impact on America’s domestic and foreign policies,” commented Paul Zigo, Brookdale Coordinator of Center for World War II Studies. “They will also compare today’s times to December 1941,” he added.

General admission for the program is $5. For information about this and additional World War II Studies programs or to register for the program, call 732-224-2099.

LINCROFT, NJ — The Brookdale Foundation is proud to announce the appointment of Robert R. Schillberg, Jr., Esq., Middletown, to the Brookdale Foundation Board of Trustees.

Schillberg is a partner in the Red Bank law firm of Barnes, Schillberg & Fiure, LLC. He served as a Middletown municipal court judge from 1999 – 2000 and is a past member of the Middletown Board of Adjustment and Middletown Community Affairs Council. He is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School, Xavier College in Manhattan and St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel.

“We welcome Mr. Schillberg’s expertise and commitment to support the Foundation’s work,” said Tim Zeiss, Executive Director-Foundation/Alumni Affairs.

The Brookdale Foundation is a non-profit organization governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees comprised of local Business, professional and community leaders. Its mission is to raise money for student scholarships, educational and cultural enrichment programs, education excellence grants and special projects. It offers almost 50 endowed and sponsored scholarship programs providing more than $100,000 annually for scholarships and grants.

MATAWAN, NJ —  Buoyed by exuberant public reaction, the Mid-State Arts Resource Team (mART) has decided to continue its 'Shark Tank' exhibition through the rest of 2002. Unveiled in June 2001, the show of 22 decorated sharks forms is the first phase of "Sharks for the Arts," a multi-year public art project the organization is sponsoring to publicize its goal of creating a new local fine and performing arts center. The group will now entertain new designs from artists as it plans to expand the show.

Designs in the current show range from the "Beachgoer Shark" and the "Asbury Shark" to the "Diva Shark" and "Picasso Shark." Some exhibit sites experienced such enthusiastic feedback that they are interested in bringing the show back for a second run. The competition is open to both professional and amateur artists. Anyone interested in participating in the show must fill out an Application Form, and provide either a design for a shark form or examples of their work. There is a $25. entry fee. Application forms may be obtained by calling mART at 732-441-1229, or by visiting the group's web site, www.sharkart.org. There are two upcoming deadlines for submissions: April 21 (early consideration,) or June 15. mART is also interested in hearing from any new sites interested in hosting the show, and from individuals, organizations, or companies who might like to sponsor a shark. Inquiries may also be made by e-mailing mART at martsharks@yahoo.com.

mART hopes that "Sharks for the Arts" will build public support for it's goal of creating a local arts center, and that people interested in building a better community will get involved with the organization. The group holds its meetings on the third Wednesday of each month, at the Matawan Community Center, 201 Broad Street. Its next meeting will be on February 20th, and its March meeting is also on the 20th, both starting at 7:30 PM. Due to construction at the site, please park behind the building, entering the rear lot via Church Street, and coming in the rear door. Call for directions if necessary.

TINTON FALLS, NJ —  Over 350 Girl Scouts, their families and leaders will be celebrating World Thinking Day on February 22, 2002. The Girl Scouts of the Red Bank, Tinton Falls, Navy Earle Service Unit will be holding their celebration "The Centers of Girl Scouting" at the Atchinson School, Sycamore Avenue, Tinton Falls, from 7-9pm.

There will be over 30 Troop displays revolving around the four World Centers: Pax Lodge, London; Sangam, India; Our Chalet, Switzerland; and Our Cabana, Mexico; as well as the two national centers: National Girl Scout USA Headquarters, New York City; and Juliette Low Birthplace, Savannah, Georgia. Come learn the mission and history of these centers, country flag, a song or dance from the area, learn a craft representative of Girl Scouts/Guides from that area, taste food and drink from the center, and see replicas of each center. Also learn about Wider Opportunities and Outward Bound programs for older Cadette Girl Scouts. Refreshments will be served. Girl Scouting ... Where Girls Grow Strong!

For more information contact Linda Gumina at lguminax4@aol.com or 732-275-0773.

Monmouth County Teen Arts Festival Slated for Next Month

LINCROFT, NJ — Brookdale will host the annual Monmouth County Teen Arts Festival Thursday and Friday, March 21 and 22 from 9 AM – 2 PM at several locations on the Lincroft college campus.

The Teen Arts Festival is an exhibit of performing and visual arts produced by Monmouth County high school students for an audience of peers, parents, teachers and friends. Entries are in the categories of music, theater, visual art, dance and creative writing. Professionals judge the student works. Winning entries proceed to the statewide Teen Arts Festival.

“In addition to the exhibits, a variety of student workshops will also be offered during the two-day event,” said Pat La Morte, Monmouth County Teen Arts Festival coordinator.

For information, contact Mr. Pat La Morte, Red Bank Regional High School at 732-842-8000, ext. 223.

Republican State Senators Are Wrong When They Say McGreevey Eliminates State Beach Replenishment Funds

LONG BRANCH, NJ — U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today said Republican state legislators are trying to make a political issue out of beach replenishment by spreading misinformation that New Jersey Governor McGreevey’s (D-NJ) budget would eliminate state beach replenishment funds.  Pallone said the budget the governor announced yesterday does not jeopardize any beach replenishment projects that are slated for preconstruction or construction in New Jersey over the next fiscal year.

Pallone, a long time advocate of shore protection projects, received a letter yesterday from seven Republican New Jersey State Senators who represent areas of the Jersey Shore.  The legislators wrote; “Governor McGreevey has announced that he is contemplating eliminating State monies for the state portion of beach replenishment funding for one fiscal year.” 

After reviewing the governor’s proposed budget, Pallone said the state senators were wrong in suggesting that the governor was eliminating beach replenishment funds.  In an attempt to address the state’s fiscal crisis, Governor McGreevey proposed moving $25 million of the $45 million now in a real estate transfer fund, which funds the state’s portion of beach replenishment projects, to help reduce the $2.9 billion budget shortfall. 

Pallone said the $20 million left in the fund is more than enough money to fully address all the beach replenishment projects slated for work over the next year.  Last week, President Bush outlined his budget, which included $16.3 million for 15 beach replenishment projects in New Jersey.  Considering the federal government is obligated to pay 65 percent for shore protection projects, and the State of New Jersey and local governments kick in the remaining 35 percent, with the state paying 75 percent of that portion to the local government’s 25 percent, the state’s portion of these 15 projects over the next year would be $6.6 million.        

“Governor McGreevey is not eliminating state monies for beach replenishment,” Pallone said.  “He is leaving enough of the dollars for shore protection to match the federal dollars for the various beach replenishment projects that are scheduled in the next fiscal year,” Pallone wrote in a letter of response to the state senators.

“Governor McGreevey has long been an advocate for shore protection, and I know that he will adequately protect the interests of the Jersey Shore,” Pallone said.  “In order to balance the budget, the Governor will have to make some cuts in most state programs, but there is no reason to believe that any federal beach replenishment projects will suffer.”

Pallone was encouraged last week after a detailed review of President Bush’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 budget showed New Jersey would receive a funding increase for its beach replenishment projects from $13.8 million appropriated for FY 2002 to $16.276 million for FY 2003.

Following is a list of the New Jersey projects the president lists in his budget, and the amount of federal money going to each program:

LONG BRANCH, NJ — U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) on Tuesday voiced opposition to a development plan for Fort Hancock that devotes too much leeway to commercial developers and leaves non-profits and educational groups out in the cold.  The New Jersey Congressman said he would reserve complete judgment until affected residents and visitors to the area have an opportunity to voice their opinions at open-house meetings on February 28 and March 2. 

The National Park Service's plan involves the rehabilitation of 36 historic military buildings, built between 1878 and 1941 by the Army and used for coastal defense until 1974, which are now in varying states of disrepair.  Under the plan, the buildings would be rehabilitated for office, educational and hospitality operations.

"I support plans to preserve the historic buildings at Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook Proving Grounds, but I am concerned that the National Park Service's plan could create an unwelcome commercial park," Pallone said. "I appreciate the fact that the Park Service is preserving the buildings, however there is no need to go overboard with this development.  For example, the idea of making the former officers club into a hotel and restaurant is particularly troubling to me."

Last year, in an effort to reduce the number of vehicles traveling to and from Sandy Hook, Pallone was successful in securing $2.3 million for the construction of a bike path through the park as well as $1 million for the construction of a recreational docking facility.  Pallone said he is concerned that the National Park Service's plan to commercially develop the area would add even more congestion to the one road accessing Fort Hancock.  

Pallone said he is also concerned about the future of 20 buildings currently used by organizations including Brookdale Community College, the New Jersey Audubon Society, the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology and the James J. Howard Marine Laboratory.  The New Jersey Congressman is concerned that many of these educational and non-profit groups would be forced out of their buildings because the organizations would be unable to fund the rehabilitation of their facilities or compete with for-profit companies. 

"In the past, the National Park Service was committed to a strong educational and environmental presence at Fort Hancock, but I am concerned that commitment could be in jeopardy under this new plan," Pallone continued.  "In keeping with the historic uses of the buildings and the overall goals of the NPS, we need to hold tight to the promise that some of the buildings will be used for educational purposes and for nonprofits like the New Jersey Sea Grant College Program and Clean Ocean Action."

While Pallone voiced reservations to the commercial aspects of the plan, he did say that he looks forward to hearing from citizens on both sides of the issue later this month.  The New Jersey Congressman said it is critically important that concerned citizens have access to all available information and are able to provide input and help make a decision about the future use of this historic community.

TRENTON, NJ — Clean Money United announced the beginning of an ethical and moral campaign to bring Clean Money elections to New Jersey. The campaign will begin at 12:00 noon on Friday, February 22, and will last until New Jersey has Clean Money Elections.

" We are calling it an ethical and moral campaign," said Stuart Shaw, contact person for Clean Money United, "because the results of the dirty money, donor-donee system we have now in New Jersey is hurting every aspect of our personal and private lives: our water, our air, our transportation, our food. It is hurting those we care about the most: our little children, our elderly family and friends, our ill, and our troubled. We are calling it an ethical and moral campaign, because dirty money has stealthily taken away our real democracy-government by the people and replaced it with a plutocracy-government by money. We are calling it an ethical and moral campaign because dirty money demeans the legislator and causes the legislator to betray his or her trust as an advocate and fiduciary of the citizens. The present donor-donee system makes Enron happen over and over again at every level."

Between 12 noon and 1 p.m. on Friday, February 22, 2002, George Washington's real birthday, every legislator in New Jersey and the Governor will be visited by one or more constituents, presenting the legislator with a copy of the Maine Clean Money Law. Clean Money United, the organizer of this effort is urging every citizen to join them at noon, by coming to their state legislator's local office. If you don 't know the address of your legislator's office, call Clean Money United toll free at 877-858-1482.

The legislator will be asked to sign a pledge to cosponsor a Maine type Clean Money Law for New Jersey. (The legislators have had a copy of the Maine law for over a month.) The Maine law has been a big success and has been copied by three states: Arizona, Massachusetts and Vermont-with thirty other states gearing up to do the same thing. Moreover, experts urge that it is the Maine law that should be adopted by the Federal Government, as the present Congressional efforts will change little.

"Without 'Clean Money,' we don't have a 'Democracy:'- Government by the People," said Alvin Meyer, Bergen County Clean Money Organizer. Without Clean Money, we have a 'Plutocracy:'- Government by Money. You can remember what a plutocracy is because 'Pluto" was Mickey Mouse's dumb dog, plutonium is deadly poison, and Pluto was the God of the Underworld. Without Clean Money, we have a Mickey Mouse Government with poisonous results, run by under- the- table people like Enron."

"Clean Money United, is a statewide coalition," says Richard Foster, Bergen County Coordinator of Clean Money. The Maine version of a Clean Money Law is supported by the National League of Woman Voters, the Maine AARP, the Maine AFL/CIO, New Jersey Common Cause, New Jersey Citizen's Action, the New Jersey Grey Panthers, New Jersey Woman's League for Peace and Freedom, New Jersey Peace Action, and Public Campaign, USA. More organizations are signing up every day.

Pat Sordill of the Northern New Jersey Branch of the Woman's International League for Peace and Freedom said, "Under the Maine law, any citizen of the State, whether connected to a party or not, and whether wealthy or not, may declare themselves a 'Clean Candidate.' Candidates must collect a given number of signatures from voters in their district supporting their candidacy. With each signature the candidate must collect five dollars which they turn over to the state. They must pledge to accept no money from donors or themselves.

The State will then accept them as a clean candidate and fully fund their campaign, based on the average cost of a campaign for that position during the prior two years. If their opponent outspends the candidate's basic allotment, matching funds are available up to 200% of the original grant.

In Maine's first Clean Election, over half of the candidates running clean were elected. Today, half of the Maine Senate and one third of the Maine assembly are clean legislators who owe no one but the citizens. Soon the Maine governorship is coming up to be decided by Clean elections. Maine's newly formatted legislature promptly passed a law providing universal health care to its citizens."

"Maine finances its Clean Elections out of its overall state budget and it is a required expenditure," said Shaw. For New Jersey to have Clean elections, it would cost less than .175 of 1% of its State budget. This has been called "budget dust" in Massachusetts. Incumbent legislators and Governors have always been the only enemies of Clean Money. They fought it in Maine; they fought it in Arizona. They are fighting it in Massachusetts. The people, on the other hand, love it. Former legislators recommend it Incumbent legislators are afraid that if Clean Money passes, they will have to compete with new and desirable candidates on a level playing field. . Right now, under the donor-donee system, everybody but the incumbent is shut out unless the other candidate can also get a big war chest supplied by donors. Furthermore, the legislators are afraid to break their "purple line" that says 'If no one of us legislators will sponsor Clean Money, we won't have to reveal that we are against it.'

In Massachusetts, the legislators are hiding behind the Assembly Speaker who says that citizen money should not be spent for politicians. (These legislators have been overruled by the Massachusetts Supreme Court). New Jersey legislators may try to hide behind Governor McGreevy who has declared a 'budget crisis.' If McGreevy should decide it is necessary to cut back the budget by 15%, then having Clean Money would only change the cutback to less than 15.02%. The difference between 15% and 15.02% would not be noticeable. And regarding the crisis, Mayor Montenegro of South Hackensack noted, "I know what you do when a new team takes over. You make it sound as bad as it can be, so your team can take it over and look good."

Strangely, at the same time that McGreevy fired 500 government employees, he is also talking about building a stadium in Newark for 355 million dollars. The Yankee/Nets want New Jersey to cover 70 percent of the cost by guaranteeing State Bonds whose principle and interest would have to be paid by the taxpayers.  "It would be ironic, if the legislators whose donor-donee system has caused this financial mismanagement (both parties participated fully in it) were to say 'We can't give you Clean Money Elections, because now we don't have money for it.' The fact we have this mismanagement financial crisis is the strongest possible case for investing in Clean Money Elections to stop this mismanagement. And it is so little to invest. The total cost of an election cycle is a fraction of the 200 million dollars we gave Trump and Wynn to build a tunnel to their casino driveways while destroying whole communities. A few of these donor giveaways avoided will pay for Clean Money elections for a long time.

"If the legislators are serious about a budget crisis, they will want to cancel the 25% pay raise they gave themselves and renounce their generous pensions and medical benefits. After all, they only go to Trenton 33 times during the year. Who else gets a full time pension and medical benefits for a part time job for which they are paid $50,000 a year. These savings will more than finance Clean Money Elections.

"But conclusively, if we had lost our democracy because we had foreign troops upon our shore, we would spend any sum until we reclaimed our democracy. We do have foreign troops upon our shores. They are foreign to our interests and they are called corporate donors. And we have lost our democracy. These foreign troops have given us plutocracy. Plutocracy is not what many men and women have died for."

At noon, February 22, New Jersey Citizens will find out a lot. There will be no hiding for anybody. A legislator can 't say they tried real hard and their heart was with us and that they will support us. Instead, it will be a simple decision, either they pledge or they don't pledge. If they don't pledge, that legislator will be saying that he or she prefers the present graft ridden donor system that shuts out the citizen, shuts out the new worthy candidate and produces the" Mickey mouse" and poisonous kind of government we have had in New Jersey no matter which party is in office.

While we are the second richest State in the nation, we are one of the worst in Education, Housing, Health, Race Relations, Transportation, Government, Quality of Life and Corporate Gouging. The legislature is so ineffective that the courts have been forced to try to repair the school system. Thousands of children are in classrooms with leaking roofs and windows that don't shut. The League of Woman Voters has called the State obstructive. All counties have terrible and dangerous air, some of the worst in the nation. Cancer and child and senior asthma is high. Our highways are among the worst in the Nation, our pedestrian fatalities the highest. Care of mentally ill, seniors and children is a disgrace and among the worst in the nation. Despite rampant municipal corruption, no State legislator will sponsor a bill to prevent State and municipal corruption. (For 16 pages of newspaper articles synopses, see http://www.monmouth.com/~colonel/nj.html.)

But we are taking good care of the donors: Banks- we have the highest fees in 29 states, Auto Insurers- we have the highest rates in the Nation for the last seven years. Steve Wynn can get a tunnel built to his casino, destroying the communities of citizens. Donald Trump can get a driveway built to his casino, but a law asking for no more additional toxic waste producing companies on our reservoirs (presently judged unfit to drink by man or beast), never gets hearing.

"Surely, this a 'Mickey Mouse' operation with poisonous results," James Morrison, organizer in Hunterdon County said. "We have a 19 minute videotape 'Road to Clean Elections' by Bill Moyers. The average citizen after watching it takes no more than ten stunned minutes to say, 'Can we really have that? I want that.' Obviously, the citizen is very enthusiastic about the Maine Clean Money Law when he knows about it. The legislators have each had a copy of the Maine Law for over a month with our offer of instruction or information gathering. (They have been advised to watch the video. Few have done so.) So when the legislator makes his or her decision to make the pledge or not, he or she is revealing themselves. They are either for something very good for the citizen or they are against something very good for the citizen."

The stakes are very high: our water, our air, our food, the care of our children, the care of our seniors, and the care of our ill. There is not an aspect of our lives that is not touched and injured by the donor-donee system. You have all heard of Meagan's law and know the reason for it. But the prime abuser of children in the State of New Jersey has been called the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services.

We know what the poisonous results of the present donor-donee system have been. More and more citizens don't bother to vote anymore. They didn't have a role in picking the candidates and they know the winner of the election doesn't report to the citizen, but to the donors. If the legislator cannot pledge to cosponsor the Maine Clean Money Law, he or she is saying,' I know these results and I like it this way. This is my form of ethics and morality.'

In the campaign that is going to happen in every district of New Jersey after February 22, every citizen must decide if they want a legislator that with the ethics and morality that will allow them not to sponsor Clean Money. If the citizen doesn't like that morality, they can join us in working to recall and replace the non-pledging legislator. Call us toll free to find out where your legislator's local (around the corner) office is. Call us to take part in the campaign that follows.

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PASTOR'S CORNER By Rev. Dr. George Hancock-Stefan Central Baptist Church Atlantic Highlands, NJ cbcbeacon@aol.com View Archive

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READING CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY WISDOM

During the Christmas holiday, I decided to read again Alexis De Tocqueville’s book, Democracy in America, written in 1832. At the same time, a couple of my friends suggested that I needed to read The Clash of Civilizations by Samuel Huntington, written in 1996. Since I am one of those people who read more than one book at a time, I found myself trying to find the similarities between the two books.

Tocqueville is enthusiastic about the United States. He saw the United States as rising to become the dominant power. Some of the characteristics that Tocqueville regarded as extremely important and powerful were one language, the emphasis on religion, and the democratic aspect of the people that were building a new nation. He was very hopeful about the future of this new country.

Huntington in his most optimistic moments gives the United States about 100 years of dominance or importance in the international aspects. He sees the dawning of the Western world as other worlds such as the Sinic world, the Moslem world, and the Asian world move into central focus.

It is frightening to see why Huntington reaches such conclusions. Yet I was fascinated by
the parallels between Tocqueville and Huntington in regards to language, religion and education. He feels that as other cultures are coming up they are maintaining this ideological troika. Inversely in the Western world, as there is an infusion of other people and because of the emphasis on language and cultural independence, the Western world is losing its cohesiveness. He also presents the fact that in the West there is a proliferation of moral permissiveness by the religious people so that the moral fiber is no longer sustaining a long-term vision. While in the United States we still have some of the greatest universities, they seem to propagate very little of Western value in their core curriculum, as the curriculum has become broadly inclusive and in places disparaging of what has made the Western world great.

When one reads Tocqueville one feels that the sun is rising up over the United States and subsequently over the Western world. When one reads Huntington one gets the sense that the sun is setting, and a storm is on the way. Huntington is like one of those Old Testament prophets who predicts gloom in the horizon, but the silver lining of prophecy is that if the people change, the future can be changed also.

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BODY POLITIC by Jack Archibald, Atlantic Highlands  Council President

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WHERE ARE THE REPUBLICANS CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESS?

These are dreary days for members of the New Jersey Republican faithful.  Fresh off the debacle of last November’s elections, the party is trying to pick up the pieces and offer some hope for the next time around.  With one Senate spot up for grabs this year, as well as every congressional seat, the GOP should be working non- stop to regain the agenda in New Jersey.

Unfortunately, some Republican leaders are too busy to become Republican candidates. A few months ago, Senator Robert Torricelli appeared vulnerable and such Republican heavyweights like Steve Forbes, Lew Eisenberg, and Tom Kean were mentioned as potential challengers.  However, each has cited outside obligations that take precedence, and Republicans are left with a primary race with few recognizable names.  Generally, a primary is not a bad thing but John Corzine proved in 2000 that money talks in New Jersey Senate campaigns and Torricelli already has a large treasury chest.

Locally, there is only one declared Republican opponent for Representative Frank Pallone.  Challenging Pallone has become akin to tilting at windmills and the Republican leadership has become accustomed to that result.  That translates into lukewarm support, and most experienced Republican politicians choose not to tarnish their records by squaring off against Pallone.

At some point, the leaders of the Republican party have to either show their willingness to join the fray or detail their game plan to the rank and file. They cannot stand on the sidelines and opine about what ifs, could haves, or should haves.  On a state level, the high profile names have to step up and challenge the Torricelli’s. On a local level, the leadership needs to re-examine its grass roots and fully support their candidates if they hope to make any dents in the fall elections.

Contact Jack Archibald - jcarch@msn.com 

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LEMONADE STAND By Carol Barbieri BarbieriCa@aol.com carolbarbieri.com

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GAY COUPLES' RIGHT TO ADOPT AS SECOND-PARENTS IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD

Every child should have the best of everything.  But an adopted child deserves the best of everything even more.  The very nature of adoption implies that the child has been "given up" in some way, by one or both parents.  That single strike against him creates a wound that he will have to nurse for the rest of his life.  And life is tough enough already.

To have two parents who love him and want to rear him together, with his best interests in mind, is a good start.  That's more than a lot of children get these days, with divorces almost as easy to get as a marriage license.  So, should it matter if the two parents are gay?

The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't think so, at least when it comes to second-parent adoptions.  The Academy recently voiced its support for the right of gay men and lesbians to adopt their partners' children.

I want to say, right from the beginning, that I do not support the adoption of children by gay couples.  It's not that I don't like gay couples or think that they wouldn't make good parents.  I don't support the adoption of children by couples over fifty, either.  I think that it's in the best interest of the child to have young parents.  It's not as easy to ride a bike with your child when you're in your seventies as it is when you're in your thirties, is it?  Besides, deciding to have a child after fifty almost seems like an "afterthought" to me, not a "priority." 

I think that an adoptee deserves an "ideal" environment.  By that I mean, that he or she should be adopted by a young, healthy, happily married, heterosexual, economically secure couple, who are unable to bear children of their own.  This couple should want a baby so much, that they would go to South America, Russia, and Yugoslavia and back a hundred times, just to have one. 

I'm a big believer in the "stay-at-home" Mom," so I think the adopted mother should be one.  Remember, before the child was "chosen" by one mother, he was "abandoned" by another mother.  So, he's going to need a mother around even more than your average child.  Besides, I never understood how a woman could go through years of trying to have a baby, and thousands of dollars in legal fees, only to hand the "baby of her dreams" over to a baby-sitter, so she could go back to her career.

I don't support adoption by gay couples because, life is complicated enough for a young child, without him having to figure out why he has "two mommies" or two "daddies," instead of one of each.  He's going to have to deal with questions like, "What happened to my 'real' mommy or daddy?" "Are they still alive?" and "Why did they give me up?"  Those questions are hard enough to answer.

That being said, you might wonder why I support the American Academy of Pediatrics decision to endorse second-parent adoptions.  I support it, because the endorsement pertains only to second-parent adoptions, and I think that there's a big difference between the two.

Consider the child in the second-parent scenario.  First of all, they're not newborns.  They may have already witnessed the deterioration of their parents' marriage (and all the fighting, fear, and pain that goes with it).  They're already living in a broken home.  Their mother or father has already explained to them that they are gay (and it's unfortunate that they didn't realize this before there was a marriage and children involved). 

Their parent's partner is willingly asking for the opportunity to take responsibility for their happiness, their financial security, and their welfare.  What kind of message does that send to a child?  That he is loved.

Speaking practically, homosexual second-parent adoptions, will guarantee that the child will have the same rights and protections that are accorded to heterosexual parents and their children.  Second-parent adoption insures that the child will have access to heath benefits from both parents and to Social Security benefits, in the event that either of the parents dies.  Also, the child is protected if the gay couple separates.  Matters of custody, visitation rights, and child support will be worked out in the same way as if the couple were heterosexual

It seems like second-parent adoptions are in the best interest of the child, any way you look at it.  Actually, to not allow a child to be adopted by a gay second-parent almost seems like discrimination against the child.  It's almost as if we're saying, "You can't have the same rights and privileges as a child with heterosexual parents, because your "parents" are gay."

To a degree, I speak from experience.  I'm adopted.

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DEMOCRATICALLY YOURS by Joe Caliendo Middletown Township Democrat Party Chairman

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THE TRUTH OR A LIE:  A SIMPLE CHOICE

I have received the most disturbing information last week that affects every Middletown Township resident.

In another newspaper last week, Mayor Patrick Parkinson denied that the Middletown Township Committee had, at any time, approved the construction of a commuter parking lot on Red Hill Road.

In his letter to the editor, published in this other newspaper, he said, “The Middletown Township Committee has been opposed to a commuter parking lot at this location since it was originally proposed.  To this end, the New Jersey Highway Authority agreed to obtain the Middletown Township Committee’s approval prior to a commuter lot ever being built.  The Middletown Township Committee will not approve a commuter parking lot at the Exit 114 interchange.”

Guess what?  The committee has already approved it.

In a document I received last week, specifically the agreement between the NJ Highway Authority and the county of Monmouth, dated January 22, 2001, on the first page of the contract, a paragraph clearly states: “Whereas, the Authority and the County recognize that there is a high demand for commuter parking along the Garden State Parkway as evidenced by the heavy utilization of the commuter parking lots at Telegraph Hill and Interchange 109, and that provision of such parking with the concurrence of the Middletown Township Committee, is in the best interest of the public…”

I hope everyone paid attention to that “…with the concurrence of the Middletown Township Committee…” part.  It means that this committee has already agreed to this parking lot, and there’s a problem with a public office holder telling the truth.

Readers, Mr. Pat Parkinson was a member of the committee at the time this document is saying the governing body agreed to the parking lot.  So, that means he knew about it.  In my book, that means that either the contract between the Highway Authority and the county is lying or Mr. Parkinson is lying.

I don’t believe that the contract is lying.  The fact that there’s a problem between what the mayor of my town says in print and the facts of a state contract – a public record – tells me something is very wrong.

Middletown is haven for GOP cronies getting other GOP cronies jobs.  Perhaps not unexpectedly given this situation, Mr. Parkinson is the head of the Water and Sewerage Authority.  He says that’s not a conflict of interest.  Evidently, he also has a problem remembering what he’s doing as an elected official in this town, or he has a problem with telling the truth about what he’s doing.

This happens in one-party towns.  Power is held so long by a small number of people, they believe they can get away with just about anything.  They’re better than the people who elect them, in their minds.

I disagree.

The Township Committee in Middletown is employed by the people of Middletown. The Town Hall they sit in is the property of the people of Middletown.  And, the decisions they make for this community are accountable to the people of Middletown.

This is America.  We do not have kings or queens here.  We have elected office holders who are accountable to the people who put them in office.

In my opinion, Mayor Patrick Parkinson has violated that trust, and I demand a full accounting of this situation.  In lieu of that, I call on the mayor to step down from office for violating his public trust.

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TRENTON TALK by Assemblyman Steve Corodemus (R) - 11th District AsmCorodemus@njleg.state.nj.us  www.corodemus.com Political Website www.njleg.state.nj.us/html/corodem.htm Legislative Website

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MONMOUTH COUNTY IS CHOCK-FULL OF HISTORY THAT DESERVES PRESERVATION

The Monmouth County Historical Association (MCHA), founded in 1898, is dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of Monmouth County, New Jersey. I was honored recently with an appointment to serve on this important association. I am so proud to be a part of this organization, whose members are dedicated to preserving the unique character of Monmouth County, because of the Society's members, and their hard work and dedication, Monmouth County is chock-full of history, character and beauty.

I recently completed my third term as Chairman of the Assembly Environment Committee, and hope to continue to work hard to protect the environment and preserve land for all of New Jersey residents. I have also been a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, and have championed legislation for various historical preservation projects in Monmouth County such as working to secure $25,000 for the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society, over $125,000 for the Ocean Grove Historical Association, $25,00 to assist in preserving history in Long Branch, and $1,000 for the Township of Ocean. In addition, along with the association we were able to secure over $390,000 in grants several years ago.

As Chairman Emeritus of the Assembly Environment Committee, I took pride in sponsoring legislation with my Monmouth County colleagues in the legislature aimed at providing funding to ensure the viability to our county's historic sites. In addition, I believe in protecting one of New Jersey's fleeting resources - land. I want my daughter to be able to show her children what farm land and open space looks like in our state, and the only way to do that, is to secure funding to help towns retain various tracts of land. That is why I was proud to be one of the prime sponsors of A-1000 the Garden State Preservation Trust Act, which was signed into law several years ago.

It is legislation such as the creation of the Shore Protection Fund, which began by allocating $15 million dollars per year to shore replenishment projects throughout the state, that help protect the "garden" in the Garden State.

The bottom line is that we all must work together to preserve our history, both past and present. That is why being named to serve on the Monmouth County Historical Association Board is such an honor for me. As a Board member of the Society, as well as a legislator, I pledge to continue working hard to preserve the beauty of Monmouth County for future generations to enjoy.

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WINDOWS ON RED BANK by Daniel Murphy, Jr. RiverCenter Board Member danssteaks@aol.com

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WORKING OUT IN RED BANK

First I want to say thank you to the Red Bank Borough Counsel, the Planning Board, and Zoning Board and anyone else that helped open the new Atlantic Club in Red Bank on Maple Ave. I have been a gym rat since 1954 when I discovered the basketball gym and weight room at the YMCA on Riverside Ave. That site is now the home of the Navesink House. It was twenty years, 1974, before the executive health spa opened downstairs at the Mini Mall at Broad and Monmouth with the first weight training Nautilus machines. These allowed you to adjust weights by just moving a pin and were the beginning of a new wave of health training.

Over the years a number of clubs have come and gone each providing a better way to train. The key to these new clubs were the trainers who would teach lay people the art of working out. They would also inspire younger athletes to achieve higher levels of fitness then ever before. In our area the Gurus of training were Fred Koch, owner of the Fitness Center in Little Silver and the H.E.A.R. Institute in Red Bank. These trainers were and are the life blood of any gym or health club. They inspired and taught new and better methods of training.

I have seen over the last couple of year's great facilities that have put their efforts into computerized machines without hiring good trainers. You can't put someone who is out of shape and has never really trained in a gym on slow computerized circuit training and expect them to develop a passion for working out and getting in shape. Without good results over a period of time these people will drop out. Many national chains made money knowing the people they signed to yearly contracts would stay for only a short period of time. New York Sports Club always hired the best trainers they could find and expanded to over 84 clubs around the world. The same is true with the Atlantic Club but they carried it a step further.

I have heard that the sprawling Atlantic Club in Wall has become a way of life for most of its members. It is a cross between a health club, a spa, a country club and a community center. Although I have not been to the Wall Club, after joining the new Atlantic Club in Red Bank I can understand what Pat Laus has created. From the minute you walk in the door you know this is a different facility then all others. The staff is friendly, highly trained and their focus is you. From the front desk accompanied by a food and health juice bar to the lavish Spa upstairs and everything in-between is first class. There is a studio for every form of training: Yoga, Pilates, Spinning, weight training, and step and cardio fitness are all there with top instructors to help you train.

I bring this club and others to your attention because I have always believed in the phrase "If you don't have your health you don't have anything." Working out and keeping fit at any age is mandatory if you want to lead a healthy long life. At my age I don't know how long it will be but however long it is I will be fit. The other advantage of having a work out program in your life is the mental and physical edge it gives you. Stress is relieved; your ability to have endurance for your job, your family, your social and of course your sex life is enhanced. Check out the health clubs and gyms nearest you, it should be close by. If you find one that suits your needs join it for a short time test and start slowly. You will feel great, look better and have better endurance even when getting hammered by work, life and loved ones….Hey..it happens!

For those of you who are interested, on Thursday nights at 9 PM we will have Salsa Dance lessons after dinner in the dining room followed by a Salsa Party from 10 PM to 2 AM. Just another way to have fun and keep fit.

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Contact Daniel Murphy, Jr.  - danssteaks@aol.com    

http://www.redbankrivercenter.org - Red Bank RiverCenter
../redbank/index.html - Red Bank Community Website

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NO BULL FISHING REPORT by Jay Cosgrove of Bahr's Landing Marina and Restaurant Highlands, NJ  jay@bahrs.com http://www.bahrs.com

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REPORTS OF RIVER, BAY AND OCEAN FISHING

NJ 15th Annual Boat Show Open Feb 21st.

The show will be open from 1 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

The Show formerly held in Asbury Park now features boat loads of show room space.

Gateway Marine, Route 35, Middletown, is bringing fully equipped models of Yamaha's Century Boats from 21 to 32 feet to the show. Prices range from $28,000 to $140,000. The flagship Century 32 will be on display in a walk-around fishing model with live-aboard accommodations, according to Charles Vonstetten of Gateway. Features of the Century 32 include an aft berth with sit-up head room; a V-berth-convertible dinette and galley with a sink, stove, microwave and refrigerator; and a pullout pantry. "The 32 Century has air conditioning, heat and a diesel generator," Vonstetten said. "It sells to guys who fish the boat hard, and live on it as a summer home. All of the walk-arounds have upgraded stereo systems." Vonstetten said the Century 32 is a good boat in heavy seas, and has plenty of room in the cockpit for fighting and handling fish. Century, which has been making boats since 1926, was acquired five years ago by Yamaha, and Vonstetten said the line has since been upgraded from entry level to move-up.

"We are offering manufacturer rebates specific to each boat at the show," Vonstetten said. "Gateway will also be showing 2000 and 2001 models it acquired from other dealers through a special deal with Century. They are priced around dealer cost and are great bargains."

Gateway's exhibit is to include the Century 29 center console with Yamaha's new four-stroke, 225-horsepower outboard, redesigned 26-foot walk-around and center-console models, a 23-foot center console and a 21-foot walk-around. "The center consoles are all loaded, including T tops and outriggers," Vonstetten said. "All of the boats have at least two batteries -- some have four -- freshwater sinks and showers, saltwater wash-downs and huge in-deck fish boxes." Century models from 23 feet up include marine heads with holding tanks inside the center console.

Tom Morford Jr., owner of Atlantic Yacht Sales, Middletown, said two Stamas models, the 29 Tarpon and the 310 Express, will be exhibited at the show. He said they both incorporate the best of both fishing and luxury boat amenities. "Stamas spends a tremendous amount of time in the molds, and actually lays out the stringer system in the mold for strength and rigidity," Morford said.

"The interior of the 310 Express is finished in teak and holly for a luxurious and warm feel," he said. "They have a lot of range, in excess of 250 to 300 miles, and can cruise at 30 knots."
The 29 Tarpon is available with a four-stroke Yamaha, a Yamaha inboard diesel or a MerCruiser. Morford said the boats are moderately priced for high-end boats with the 29 Tarpon starting at $105,000 and the 310 Express at $135,000.

Tickets are $8.50, or $6 for children 12 to 17; children are admitted free. Admission for senior citizens is $7 Thursday and Friday.

Winter Fishing Report

Capt. Scotty Hilliard found Friday's bottom fishing in a south wind to be exceptionally slow. Thirty fishermen aboard his Prowler V from Atlantic Highlands managed only 90 ling though Hilliard made seven drops. That fishing should bounce back, but such days aren't uncommon during the winter when fish seem to turn off with changes in conditions.

Rumors of school stripers being caught in the surf at several locations continue to circulate, and bass are definitely being caught by boaters off South Jersey. Clams continue to produce in areas being worked by clammers off the mouth of Delaware Bay.

Ling were available in even shallower waters that night. Dave and Phil Fischer of Maplewood have continued to fish all winter with their Fisherman VI out of Highlands. The previous weekend they were disappointed with only a pick of ling on a Mud Hole wreck, so Saturday night they tried drifting Scotland in hopes of catching whiting, but instead found good action with ling in only 70 feet.

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PARENT CONNECTION by Carol Caruso Head Guidance Counselor, Henry Hudson Regional School ccaruso@monmouth.com

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Carol Caruso will be taking a sabbatical from her column for a few months while she attends night classes.

You can read all of her previous columns in the archive.

Contact Carol at: ccaruso@monmouth.com
http://www.exit109.com/~hhrs/ - Henry Hudson Regional School

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LOCAL TRIVIA By Allan Dean AHHerald Publisher View Archive

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW MONMOUTH COUNTY

This Week's Question:

Q:  In what year was the original Monmouth County Courthouse built?

If you have not won in the last 30 days and you know the answer, send it to trivia@ahherald.com along with your name and the town where you live.  The winner will be announced in next week's issue. )

Last Week's Question:

Q:  For whom is the Sickles School in Fair Haven named?

Kelly Knochel of Sea Bright, NJ was the first person to correctly answer last week's question.

A.  Viola L. Sickles was a teacher and principal for 52 years at what is now called Sickles Elementary School, a K-3 school in Fair Haven, NJ.  http://www.fairhaven.edu/sickles/index.html

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A RECKONING ON WHITE-TAILED DEER

Recently, there has been a lot of press about white-tailed deer (Odocileus virginianus) in New Jersey. For some people, the species is a pest and trespasser that destroys private property and should have its population artificially controlled. For other people, deer are beautiful and noble animals that deserve respect and a right to live in peace. Regardless of your perception, what do you really know about the history and ecology of deer?

For starters, the white-tailed deer is our largest mammal in the Bayshore and Two River region, behind humans. They represent what is left of the large fauna, such as black bears, cougars, and wolves that used to roam our region freely before European settlement. As Europeans increased their hunting activities including deer for subsistence, they quickly disappeared from Monmouth County. In 1909, the State of New Jersey reported that less than a hundred herds of deer existed throughout the Garden State. In fact, the mere sight of a deer would cause such an excitement among people that the event would make the front-page of a local newspaper during the early twentieth century.

After realizing that nature alone would not return the whitetail deer to a sustainable condition, the state purchased from New Jersey and New York game farms about several herds of deer to encourage replenishment for people to enjoy hunting as a recreational activity. Today, some people might express their displeasure over this response, for it seems the replenishment has been too commendable. New Jersey now boasts over 160,000 herds. In the 1998-99 deer-hunting season, there were over 60,000 deer harvested. In Monmouth County alone, over 4,000 deer were killed in 1999. Hence, the state has gone from a scarcity of deer to an over-population in certain areas. Some communities report 50 to 80 deer in one square mile.

Photo courtesy of NJ Fish & Wildlife http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/

The reasons for this remarkable comeback are many. A keen sense of smell and hearing, a lack of natural predators (such as wolves and cougars), milder winters, a decrease in natural areas, and an increase in lawns and ornamental gardens that includes palatable shrubs and plants. All contribute to an increase deer population.

Of course, reproduction plays a part as well. Data from NJ Fish & Wildlife suggest that breeding for deer peaks between November 3rd to the 23rd, with a majority of fawns delivered in the last week of May and first two weeks of June.

Deer are most active for people to view during dawn and dusk. Their feeding occurs every 4-6 hours from sunrise, midday, sunset and twice at night. From February through August, male deer or bucks are generally part of a small group of both males and females. Other times of the year, bucks are generally solitary. Large groups of deer may be observed year-round feeding in open areas, such as lawns, farm fields, or meadows

The use of a wintering site where most deer reside during cold conditions is a learned behavior passed on to fawns as they journey with their mothers during the first year. Most wintering sites or deeryards are located near freshwater wetlands, as this ecosystem naturally contains a diverse amount of flora resources (including twigs and buds of viburnum and maple) and sources of drinkable water.

The average weight of an adult deer is around 100 pounds for females and 150 pounds for males. The life expectancy of a deer can exceed 15 years. Antlers are the most noticeable part of a male deer, as they play an important role in determining which buck will have its pick of a mate. Rubbing the antlers on trees marks territories, and combative matches between adult males determine dominance. Locating these rubbings on a tree is one way to tell that a buck has visited your backyard.

If you encounter a deer, it will normally raise its tail, which shows a bright flash of white to communicate danger to nearby deer. An individual deer will also snort and stamp its front leg to declare possible danger. Deer are good swimmers and quick runners, with top speeds of 35 mph.

../oaktrail/2002/oot020221_deer.htm
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WINDOWS XP
by Dick Mayback

The Windows XP hype promises that it’s faster, more stable, more secure, and easier to use than any previous version of Windows, but prowling around the Internet and through a few books and articles gives a more balanced picture. Caveat: I’m not currently using XP, and everything in the article is based on what other people have written.

Should you upgrade your present Windows PC to XP? The answer, of course, is “Maybe.” I discourage gratuitous upgrades; often the result is hardware and software that won’t run. Microsoft tries very hard to insure that their new products are compatible with the widest possible range of existing hardware and software, but as PC’s evolve, some old products will be left behind, no matter how much their owners love them. The older your system is, the greater is the chance that something won’t work. Microsoft has posted a list of compatible hardware on its Web site, www.microsoft.com, and it also has a program here that you can download to check your system for compatibility.

Having said this, there are several valid reasons to upgrade: XP is more stable and more secure; it has features to avoid installing incompatible drivers; and it includes “remote assistance” which al-lows someone to help you debug software problems remotely. These are significant enough that I consider XP to be the most significant new version since Windows 95. However, XP’s other features are either minor cosmetic changes or are already avail-able, either in previous versions or as downloads.

Microsoft recommends the following minimum systems requirements for either XP Home or Pro: a 300 MHz processor, 128 Mbytes of RAM, 1.5 Gbytes of available disk space, video adapter and monitor with at least 800 x 600 resolution, CD-ROM or DVD drive. These are the minimum requirements; if you just meet them you will have the slowest XP system possible. Some features require Internet access at 33.6 kb/s, a sound card, or a video conferencing cam-era and may also need a higher speed processor or additional disk space.

Some of the new “features” are not what they appear to be. XP contains a built-in firewall, but it is only rudimentary, and you shouldn’t depend on it. Instead get a good aftermarket firewall, such as BlackICE Defender, McAfee.com Personal Firewall, Norton Personal Firewall, or ZoneAlarm Pro, especially if you have a cable or DSL connection. Similarly, unless you use the NTFS file system and change the account defaults, user passwords provide much less security in XP Home than you might think, as any user can read, change, and delete any file that any other user owns.  Both the Home and Pro versions of XP allow you to create a “guest” user account that doesn’t require a password. Don’t do this, especially if you have high-speed access to the Internet; you don’t need this open invitation to hackers. You also should enable passwords, which means you will have to enter a proper password to operate your XP system.

A very valuable XP feature is the distinction between administrator and ordinary users; only administrators can install software and modify system files. To make use of this, it’s important that you set up a non-administrator account. You should never run with administrator privileges when you are connected to the Internet, as this makes your system vulnerable to viruses and other malicious programs. Unfortunately, when XP installs itself, it sets up only an administrator account, and unless users have uncommon initiative, they will just use it that way. For your own protection, you should set up an ordinary account and do most of your work from it. Log in as an administrator only when you are adding new hardware or software. This will do much to prevent hackers (and your own mistakes) from damaging your system.

I disagree with the assertion that XP is significantly faster than previous versions. It does boot faster, 31 seconds for XP Pro vs. 41 for ME and 47 for 2000, but ZD Net’s benchmark tests show that most programs run at the same speed on Windows XP Pro, ME, and 2000. For me at least, saving 10 or 20 seconds each morning doesn’t come close to justifying the time, cost, and risk associated with an upgrade.

The Home and Pro versions of XP are quite similar, but there there are important differences in their networking features. XP Home is probably adequate for most home users, but if you intend to use XP in a business, you probably should strongly consider XP Pro. Its networking features, however, are be-yond the scope of this article.

If you pride your-self on never reading a manual, you probably will not increase the security of your PC by upgrading to XP. Security features are inherently complex, and properly implementing them requires some study.

Neither XP Home nor XP Pro comes with a manual. Plan to spend an addition $40 or so for a good book. If you don’t do this, you probably will never properly use XP and as a result your system will be as vulnerable to hacking and crashing as your present one is. This means that the cost to upgrade from ME to XP Home is not $100 but $140. Finally, don’t waste $35 to $40 on Microsoft Plus; it is a collection of cheap cosmetic gadgets and trivial games and enhancements, most of which have equivalents that are readily available as free or shareware downloads. A much better investment for the same price would be a good XP book or anti-virus program.

Learn more by checking www.microsoft.com/windowsxp or going to www.zdnet.com and doing a search on “Windows XP.”

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SCUTTLEBUTT by USS Arctic Public Affairs

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WEEKLY DRILLS ON USS ARCTIC DIRECTED TOWARD LUMINOUS LIGHT OFF ASSESSMENT
by ENS James Cook

As everyday America has come to terms with the importance of contingency drilling, the Navy is all too familiar with the value of such training. Arriving at the end of one Inter Deployment Training Cycle at completion of her Mediterranean Sea/Arabian Gulf Cruise 2001, USS ARCTIC now endures a shipyard availability before transitioning to Military Sealift Command in June. Based on Fleet requirements, however, ARCTIC will be subjected to a Light Off Assessment (LOA) in April to evaluate and certify the crew’s competence in Engineering and Damage Control operation and response.   

Overcoming the challenges imposed by the shipyard environment, ARCTIC’s Damage Control Training Team coordinated with Metro Machine and other contractors to reach an agreement on a time to conduct ship training. Noting that a crack of dawn hour would least impact the progress of ongoing work, ship’s company kicks every Wednesday morning off with an early start! Although moored alongside a pier, a normally underway stage is set by announcing, “the ship is now in a drill environment.” Working off a drill package that lays out a sequence of events that incorporates training objectives, the ship is driven to General Quarters and begins the main space fire drill.

Centered in the Main Machinery Rooms containing gas turbine engines, diesel engines, boilers, pumps, and many other pieces of equipment geared to supply the ship with propulsion, electricity, water, and ventilation, a fire breaks out! In this vital space of the ship, fire must be quickly contained and extinguished before it spreads and causes serious damage and possible lose of life. Crewmembers hurry to their respective GQ Stations as they react to the blare of the General Alarm. Four strategically positioned Damage Control Repair Lockers provide the staging area for hose teams to dress out in firefighting ensembles while others verify the ship’s water/air tight compartmentalization.

In the best-case scenario, watch standers in the main space actuate primary Halon that robs fire of a key component, oxygen. From there, hose teams and overhaul crews watch for a reflash and begin clean up. The most formidable circumstance is when Halon is ineffective and hose teams have to enter the space and physically face the fire down with water. Limited by the training envelope of time, the first few drill weeks have gradually escalated to more complex proceedings as the crew familiarizes themselves with script. The goal over the two and a half months inport Philadelphia Naval Business Center is to ramp up to a level of proficiency needed to validate the Light Off Assessment.

So far the majority of the crew has not minded the sacrifice of starting early once a week. Most would say it is better to put in training time before the shipyard workers start their day than afterwards! With the degree of focus, enthusiasm, and dedication targeting this LOA, there is no doubt ARCTIC will excel once again as her unprecedented reputation would allude!

Contact USS Arctic Public Affairs - 2NDDIVO@arctic.navy.mil

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LEND - A - HAND Volunteer Center of Monmouth County (732) 728-1927 Visit their website - http://www.volunteermc.org

Local Volunteer Opportunities from the Volunteer Center of Monmouth County

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PICTURE THIS!

sponsored by 
 

Click the image to see a larger picture.

../picture_this/2002/pt_020221.htm or click here

Picture This! We'll show you a photo each week and you tell us where in Monmouth County that photo was taken.   Be the first person to respond with the correct answer and we will publish your name and the town where you live and we'll send you a certificate good for a free plain pizza at Vercelli's Italian Restaurant in Highlands, NJ.  (You must arrange your own transportation - sorry Australian readers.) 

Can you identify the location from this photo taken in Monmouth County, NJ? 
Send your answer along with your name and the town where you live to: editor@ahherald.com

Last Week's Picture This! Answer

Dan Campbell of Highlands, NJ was the first to correctly identify the location last week. A:  Veterans Park in Highlands, NJ

../picture_this/2002/pt_020214.htm 
last week's Picture This! photo

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READER'S WRITE

MAYOR CHARGED TO MAINTAIN ORDER AND MEETING DECORUM

I would like to respond to a letter published on your website on February 7th called "Free Speech Should Not Be Suppressed In Middletown" written by Beverly Bova-Scarano. The facts regarding the January 22nd Township Committee meeting are that Mr. Larry Loigman, an Ocean Township resident, requested a copy of a tort claim notice, which he was unable to obtain from the Clerk's Office earlier that day. Mr. Bernard Reilly, Township Attorney, advised Mr. Loigman that he would provide him with a copy of this notice the following day and that the personnel and potential litigation. issues were not allowed or appropriate for public discussion.

Mr. Loigman then proceeded to make comments about township personnel in regards to the tort claim notice. I again advised him that it was inappropriate for personnel matters to be discussed in open session. He disregarded that and again began to discuss township personnel issues. At that time, I ruled him out of order. Despite that, be again and again continued to attempt this discussion. At that time, I advised him that he had utilized his time period allotted for each person's public comments and to please leave the podium. After he refused, I requested that a police officer come to the meeting room to restore order. At that point Mr. Loigman left the podium.

As Mayor of Middletown Township, I am charged to maintain order and proper meeting behavior and decorum. Thank you for allowing me to set the record straight on this issue.

Patrick W Parkinson
Mayor
Middletown Township, NJ

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CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM IS VERY SIMPLE

Dear President Bush:

True reform is very simple, candidates can only accept campaign contributions from registered voters in their district. This would eliminate all money from special interests including Companies, Unions and PAC’s.

Companies could reduce the cost of their products because they would no longer be coerced into making huge contributions (pay offs) to politicians.

Unions could increase the benefits to their members who now wouldn’t have their dues stolen from them to pass out among parties and politicians.

PAC (acronym for “purchase a congressperson”) money, which was created to make graft legal, would stop.

In addition to not wasting billions of dollars the country would save time by curtailing the amount of pompous pronouncements from our pampered Pecksniffian politicians.

Another money saving idea from,

Barry Caulfield
Atlantic Highlands, NJ

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TOWN CENTER PLAN IS WRONG FOR MIDDLETOWN

I have seen the plans for the Town Center numerous times, through all the changes, and I still think it's the wrong thing for Middletown.

Regardless of whether or not there's a hockey rink, it's still too much development in an already crowded town. Each time I travel up and down Rt. 35, there's another vacant storefront. Do you really think everyone will flock to this complex to do their shopping and get everything they need right there? It doesn't work that way.

I grew up in North Jersey and left years ago because of the over-crowding, traffic, etc. My hometown was a small town which had a real "Town Square" complete with restaurants, shops and a small park but it was a real downtown to which people could walk, not a complex squeezed into an already retail-packed community. The town was built around this not vice versa. One could walk to this downtown - it wasn't off a highway. There weren't big parking lots, only small roads leading to this real town center. Still, I went to a particular store or restaurant and then also drove to the mall to get the other things I needed.

No one shopping area can possibly have everything every person wants or needs. I certainly did not spend an afternoon there and it's foolish to think people will actually do that. I've gone to the new "World Class Shop-Rite" but still go to other supermarkets (in the same day) because even that store doesn't have everything I want. I don't think twice about getting in the car and going to multiple shopping centers. We live in a different type of society and many people don't have the time or the inclination to stay in one place for a few hours, no matter what's there.

Sure, it sounds like a nice concept but the reality is this is something that should've been done 10-20 years ago, not now. Nobody loves shopping more than I do but we have countless shopping/gathering places in the surrounding towns. Instead of getting in my car to drive to the Town Square, I'd rather preserve the beauty of Middletown and drive somewhere else to do my shopping. Trying to scare the public into thinking that if we don't accept this, we'll be faced with another strip mall of is underhanded and manipulative. It just shows the blatant disregard of these developers to do something for the good of this community.

I worked in marketing and I know that a flashy brochure, an elaborate presentation and refreshments will not show the true picture of what this town will wind up with. The truth is that we'll be paving over open space that is sorely lacking in Middletown. If Middletown wants to become more like Hazlet instead of more like Holmdel, that's what we'd accomplish. Agreeing to put in a 3 acre park is comical. Many lot sizes in Middletown are approximately 1/2 acre so imagining a park the size of approximately 6 properties is a joke. How many deer will be able to be in that park? 5? 10?

I've seen the way these developers maintain their other properties. They are a disgrace, which this Town Square will surely become years from now. They don't even have the good taste to take down that hideous clown. I'm sorry but I cannot support this project and I know many more people, from all over Middletown and the surrounding towns, who feel the same way.

Doreen Kalcich
Middletown, NJ

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McGREEVEY SHOULD RESTORE $25 MILLION TO BEACH REPLENISHMENT PROGRAMS

I  renew my challenge to Rep. Frank Pallone to call on Democratic Gov. James E. McGreevey to restore the $25 million he has cut from beach replenishment programs.

Last March, Pallone stood on a nearby beach shoulder-to-shoulder with McGreevey, then a candidate for governor, to call on Republican President George W. Bush to restore Federal funding of beach replenishment. They were insistent and unrelenting in their call on the President to do the right thing and make our beaches whole. They were right to do so and I applaud their efforts, along with those of Republicans Rodney Frelinghuysen, Frank  LoBiondo, Jim Saxton, Chris Smith and Mike Ferguson. Together, Republicans and Democrats called on the President to keep the Federal commitment to our beaches and they were successful.

This program has a history. Not just here in New Jersey but across the nation, states that wish to have the Federal government help them with their beaches have entered into a compact with the government. If states wish to receive help from Washington, they are expected to honor an agreement to provide one-third of the funds to do so. In return, the Federal government has agreed to provide the other two-thirds of the money.

The results of the program, and of both sides honoring their commitments over the years, have been astounding. The governor of Maryland estimated in 1997 that an investment of $8.9 million in a beach replenishment program saved $160 million in damages to Ocean City, Md. When Hurricane Gloria smashed into the eastern seaboard, the residents and businesses of Ocean City were protected by beach replenishment. If it hadn’t been for that  program, lives, businesses and homes would have been shattered by the violence of a storm that would have crashed into a city that was left unprotected by a simple thing like sand. When a storm pummels a replenished beach, its violence is absorbed by the beach. Unprotected, people die and businesses are ruined.

Locally, we have seen the same. Projects all along the Raritan and Sandy Hook bays have done wonders to revitalize local economies in Keyport, Union Beach and Port Monmouth. According to Karen DeMasters of the New Jersey Shore Partnership, beach replenishment has worked wonders for Long Branch, cutting into that city’s poverty level and revitalizing it. For decades Long Branch was a vacation destination for presidents and the rich and famous. But it fell on hard times during the 1960s and 70s. A lack of investment and a stock of older buildings resulted in the city's economy becoming severely depressed; the boardwalk and oceanfront were nearly empty. The fishing pier was destroyed by fire and its remains were fenced off, adding to the bleak picture along the coastline. Now, according to DeMasters, thanks in large part to a two-phase beach renourishment project, the city is in the midst of what may well be one of the most successful redevelopment projects in the  state, and possibly one of the most successful in the nation.

I am a conservative and many of you may want to know why I support this program. The base of the word conservative is conserve. That means that we must conserve and preserve our freedoms and our values. But we must also conserve and preserve our natural resources and our beaches. It is the duty of government to protect us from invaders. A strong national defense protects us from foreign invaders. But only beach replenishment can protect us from natural invaders like hurricanes and tropical storms.

I call upon President Bush, a Republican, to keep the Federal commitment to our beaches. I know that the President is a man who is deeply inured of the concept of personal responsibility. He inherited a long-standing obligation to protect New Jersey’s shores and I am confident that he will do it.

Now, it is up to Congressman Pallone and Governor McGreevey to keep their word. Each man, one a Federal office holder the other seeking the highest office in this state, stood on a New Jersey beach last spring and they presented a united Democratic front. Those two men pledged to do everything they could to protect our shores.

Less than a year later, where are they? McGreevey is in Trenton, in the office he so badly coveted, cutting the program he pledged to protect. And Pallone, who was so strident in his attacks on a Republican chief executive, remains silent in Washington while a Democratic chief executive endangers years of hard work.

According to lawmakers, McGreevey’s attacks on our beaches have put the entire Federal funding stream in jeopardy. According to Ken Smith, the president of Coastal Advocates, McGreevey is playing a most dangerous game with our beaches. He has said of the $25 million McGreevey is cutting, and I quote, “That’s the whole damned program, he’s cutting the whole thing. The beach economy brings $2 billion to the state every year. I think McGreevey may be cutting off his nose to spite his face.”

One can understand McGreevey’s reasoning, even if I do not agree with his cuts. He is facing budget deficits that call for fiscal belt-tightening. But what of Congressman Pallone? How can he justify his silence?

I am sadly forced to come to the only conclusion that is possible. Congressman Pallone cares more about playing politics than he does about our beaches. From the congressman’s perspective how can he be critical of the Democratic governor? It is well-known that he has had longstanding feuds with members of his own Party. I must suppose that he simply could not risk the political capital it would have cost him for the sake of our beaches. He  decided he could not afford to alienate a newly-elected governor of his own Party. He had a simple choice to make. He might have chosen to stand with the Jersey Shore. He has chosen to stand with his Party, instead.

Ric Medrow
Edison, NJ

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AREA ANNOUNCEMENTS:

A piano recital performed by the students of Mrs. Julia Lakhani will be held at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, February 24th at Navesink United Methodist Church, Navesink, NJ.  The public is welcome to attend.

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POSITIVE THOUGHTS:

A good plan executed right now is far better than a perfect plan executed next week.
- George S. Patton

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FOR RENT

Ideal for NY Commuters!
1000', 2bedroom/1bath, fireplace, kitchen, patio in house near Atlantic Highlands. Rent $1200. Contact Julie (732)872-7035.

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